Why you should do something every day that scares you

THAT comfort zone feels pretty comfy, right? Well it's not going to get you anywhere. Here are five good reasons to push yourself.

DANIEL STRUDWICK

NewsComAuNovember 14, 20137:31am

Is your phone the first thing you see in the morning and last thing you see at night?Source:Supplied

WHEN Eleanor Roosevelt wisely said you should do one thing every day that scares you, she didn't mean watch Scream or Google your flu symptoms to see if you've got cancer.

She was talking about comfort zones.

They're those cosy places most of us live every day, where stress and risk are minimised by a steady level of comfort.

But that's not going to get you anywhere, is it?

Science has proven that doing something that scares you will make you more productive, prepare you for new and unexpected changes, help you push your boundaries in the future, and make it easier to harness your creativity.

So what risky activities should you add to your to-do list?

Well, here are five examples of brave people who did things that would probably scare the rest of us. And look at how well it turned out for them.

1. Strike up a conversation with a stranger

This pair became friends decades ago when one struck up a conversation with the others at the Oscars, natch.Source:News Limited

"Fear makes strangers of people who would otherwise be friends," Shirley Maclaine once said.